St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-04-28

usually begin to fall in November or
December and cease in April or May.
The rainfall is very unevenly distrib
uted in this state. In the northern
part from twenty-five to forty inches
of rain falls, while in some other parts
of the state only from five to ten inch
es is an average yearly fall. Conse-
quently nearly all the state south of
San Francisco has to be artificially ir
rigated to ensure crops either of grain
or fruit. This is done at great ex-
pense, either by bringing streams from
the mountains or by sinking wells.
The matter of irrigation has its adj
vantages and disadvantages. An adj
vantage is that the tiller of the soil
knows what to depend on. He isn't
hoping and expecting rain in season to
save his crops. He knows no rain will
come and that he must depend on his
reservoir and dispense the moisture to
meet the case. The disadvantages are,
first the expense, and second the dan
ger to health. How much account
should be taken of the latter doctors
do not agree-as usual.
AS must have been inferred from
what precedes, the climate of CalifOr
MIA is much more equable than east of
the Rockies, and for the reasons speci-
fed. Yet it is necessary to qualify
language when speaking of the climate
here. For instance, the first week or
two in April was raw and uneomfOr-
table in San Francisco, although the
mercury did not get below 500; while
only across the bay at San Rafael it
has been summer all the time, and at
Pasadena and localities in the San Ga
briel valley the weather has been like
Vermont June. People who enter
the state through Texas and the lower
territories, and are sweltered and bak
ed and dried in the desert (Which is
not "myth" even though it be "vag-
abOnd,") should have the heaviest fan
nels to put on before reaching San
Francisco if they would avoid both
danger and discomfort. When they
move inland from Frisco they can re-
duce apparel accordingly.
Such an equable and unsurpassed
climate as prevails in many sections
of California has proved boon to
Eastern invalids, especially those with
tendency to throat and lung troubles.
Consequently large number of recu
perated if not restored invalids have
settled i'm this state and a fine class
of citizens they generally prove. Ed
ucators, professional men, literary men,
business men, who have OverwOrked
and nearly broken down East, come to
this coast, many procure land and i'm
prove it with their own hands, raise
fruit and flowers, spending eleven
months of the year in their gardens
instead of eleven weeks, as at the East,
and the result in many cases is restor-
ed health and an unbOunded enthusi-
asm for this climate. The productions
of the state are simply wonderful in
variety and excellence. They include
everything of necessity and luxury
raised anywhere on the glObe-all
within the borders of this one state.
For obvious reasons business OppOr-
tunities are not SO numerous as at the
East, nor are there SO many to fill
them. While there seems to be a sur
plus of lawyers, doctors and alleged
newspapers, men who have a mind to
work can generally find employment.
To those who can command a little
or have taste for and skill in fruit
raising, some sections of this state Of
fer superior Inducements. The climate,
the soil, and the variety and abun-
dance of its productions, make it one
of the choicest places in all our broad
domain. Or, as heard a temperance
lecturer from Illinois irreverently eX-
press it in an address last Sunday af-
ternOOn, "When the Almighty made
this world he did his best job on this
coast"
In reading over the above l find |
have not written of the social disad-
vantages of this cOast-the Chinaman,
and other foreigners, the adventurer, the
Eastern embezzler and cut throat, all of
whom left their country for their cOun-
try's good. These are all bad ele
ment herein fact this element is as
bad here as in the East, and perhaps
no worse. There may be less respect
shown in this city than in New En-
gland for the Lords day and the fOun-
dation principles of truth and right
BUSINESS inherited with Plymouth rock,
but my observation leads me to infer
that neither Chicago, Cincinnati or st.
Louis will throw the firsts tone. In fact
throughout the entire day the first Sab
bath in March a gang of wOrkmen were
engaged erecting new building two
doors from the Adams House in Puri-
tan Boston. The pessimist insists that
our country is fast going down grade
on "limited." Perhaps it is; but it
is worth saving, and if anything will
save these modern SOdOms it must be
such principles, influences and blood
as can be infused fresh from the New
England hills and valleys.
G.. NJ. STONE.
San Francisco, April l8, 1887.